'Hero to zero' soldier gets warm welcome

It's not often that a British soldier is mobbed by well-wishers in Dublin.

But that was the scene in Easons on Saturday as retired British soldier Col Tim Collins signed copies of his autobiography Rules of Engagement for a steady stream of shoppers.

Phrases like "man of integrity", "a great man", "leader" filled the air as customers spoke of the man who became famous for a speech he made to the soldiers of his Royal Irish Regiment just before the invasion of Iraq when he told troops that "we are going to Iraq to liberate not to conquer. We will not fly our flags in their country . . ."

Two months later he went from "hero to zero" with allegations of war crimes, subsequently dropped, against him.

He was promoted to colonel and continued his military career until his retirement last August, with honours for his service in Iraq.

Anne Kissane from Dundrum, Dublin, thought him "a man of integrity" when she saw him on the Late Late Show. "I figured that my husband would like the book because there are so few men of integrity at all."

Buyers also included an Irish soldier who met him during a tour of duty in Sierra Leone

Garda Robert Reilly bought a copy for himself and one for a friend in the Reserve Defence Force. He had seen him on TV and considered him a "great man. The way he spoke in front of the troops - he knows how to lead and I don't think people had a problem following."

The man himself, talking to reporters in between signing books, said he wrote the book - in two months - to provide a report of events during his tour of duty, a "snapshot" of military life.

He described soldiers in war as "the greatest pacifists".

From Belfast, he served with the British army in Tyrone where he said the only people who did not support the army were the loyalist gangs. He emphasised his Irishness all the time, that the regiment was Irish with soldiers from all over Ireland. In fact, he had just signed books for two soldiers from Cork, who were home on leave. They were part of the Iraqi invasion force.

His answers were clear, concise, with a dash of poetic reference. Asked if he would like his children to join the army, he said the Irish were made for the army, quoting Kipling: "The Irish move to the sound of guns like salmon to the sea." He said he believed the Iraqi invasion was ultimately the right thing to do but that he regretted the "incompetence" afterwards.

Asked his opinion of George Bush and Tony Blair, he said they would "have to get their act together" to rebuild Iraq and return it to the Iraqis. As for a prediction of when that will be: "It's not going to happen any time soon."

His only moment of coyness is when he is asked what he will do now. His answer: "I'm a twig on the river, a leaf in the breeze." A return to this question elicits only a smile.